A Lie Has Turned Into Reality

The fall of Jang Dohyung unfolded with breathtaking speed.

Such was the overwhelming power of Taewoong Group.

Unilabs set a record by hitting the lower limit for five consecutive trading days. With trust in the company shattered, the cryptocurrency Solar was also in crisis.

Thanks to the simultaneous raids and the torrent of evidence exposing accounting fraud, Jang Dohyung was arrested without much resistance.

During this process, I was also summoned as a witness due to my attendance at the charity auction.

‘Of course, I laid everything bare for them.’

When testimony is requested, ignoring it isn’t exactly an option.

I provided the evidence I’d gathered and helped ensure that everyone involved would be thoroughly investigated.

The case had grown so massive that nothing could be swept under the rug, ensuring even the tiniest speck of dirt would be exposed.

“Hm~”

Sipping coffee, I lounged on the terrace, admiring the expansive view of the Han River.

It was as if the storm had passed, leaving a clear sky in its wake—a peaceful return to routine.

I was savoring the golden age of my life, indulging in the tranquility.

Just as I was idly wondering how to spend my day, my thoughts were interrupted.

Buzzzz.

The loud vibration of my phone snapped me out of my musings.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Sungwoo! How have you been?”

The voice on the other end was clear and soft, bringing a sense of comfort.

It was Lumi, the real estate agent I’d hired to manage my various properties. She handled everything from tenant management and maintenance to insurance—taking care of all the tedious tasks I couldn’t be bothered with.

“You’re calling early. Have you already found a tenant?”

“Of course! There’s a line of people wanting to sign. But the tenant insisted on meeting you in person to finalize the contract. We just need your signature to complete everything.”

“When should I come by?”

“Let’s see… Ah! Tomorrow, if that works for you?”

It wasn’t just money I had in abundance—time was another luxury I possessed.

“Sure, tomorrow works.”

“Great! See you then, Mr. Sungwoo!”

Click.

Owning multiple properties meant I frequently spoke with her, and she was someone I was genuinely grateful for. She saved me from a mountain of headaches.

I should bring a small gift to thank her.

Screech.

I parked my car and stepped into the real estate office, greeted by an enthusiastic voice.

“Mr. Sungwoo! Over here!”

Lumi shot to her feet, waving her hand vigorously. Her enthusiasm brought a smile to my face.

Her long, crimson hair, reminiscent of fine red wine, and her fitted white blouse made her stand out—so much so that she shattered the stereotypical image of a real estate agent.

As always, she was someone who left me unsure where to look.

“Is the new tenant here yet?”

“Nope, you’re just too early. Want to have a cup of tea while you wait?”

I nodded and took a seat.

The faint scent of flowers drifted through the air, tickling my nose.

Floral notes? It wasn’t overpowering but enveloped the space with a soft, sensual aroma.

With the sunlight streaming warmly through the window, I felt a sense of calm melting through me. Sleepiness crept in as I relaxed.

Ding-dong.

The chime of the door startled me awake.

Wait. That woman…

“Kim Soohyun?”

“Oh? Sungwoo!”

Internet broadcaster Su-Ming.

After a collaboration, we’d exchanged contact information and grown closer, moving beyond the typical streamer-viewer dynamic.

We clicked well, and our conversations were easy. Before long, we’d become friends.

But what was she doing here at this real estate office?

“Oh my, Mr. Sungwoo. Do you know the tenant?”

“What?”

So that’s how it was.

Despite how small South Korea is, I never imagined the prospective tenant would turn out to be Kim Soohyun.

She looked as surprised as I felt, her face filled with confusion.

“Lumi! You should’ve told me Sungwoo was the landlord!”

“How was I supposed to know you two knew each other?” Lumi shot back, laughing.

“Well… if I’d known, I would’ve at least dressed up a little…” Soohyun mumbled in a quiet voice.

I chuckled at the scene.

This was actually great for me. Soohyun was reliable, unlikely to miss rent payments or cause any trouble.

“Stop complaining and sit down. Are you signing the contract or not?”

“I’m signing, I’m signing…”

Still grumbling, she flopped into the chair with a resigned sigh.

The contract process went smoothly.

Soohyun and I reviewed the lease agreement Lumi had prepared, confirming the terms: the rental period, security deposit, monthly rent, termination conditions, and payment schedules.

Once everything was in order, we signed.

“All done! Soohyun, don’t forget to file your residency registration.”

“Thanks, Lumi!”

“Thank you, both.”

With the contract finalized, I was ready to leave, my business here complete.

That was until I felt a timid tug on my sleeve.

“Wait… just a second!”

“…?”

“I… um…”

The bold, fiery personality she displayed on her streams was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she seemed nervous and hesitant.

Unable to watch her struggle, Lumi burst into laughter and stepped in to rescue her.

“Sungwoo! Meeting someone you know like this must be fate. Why don’t you two grab a meal together?”

“Y-Yeah! Lunch! How about lunch together?”

Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t eaten anything all day.

I wanted to tease her a bit more, seeing how flustered she was, but I decided to let it slide.

I smirked and nodded.

“You’re paying, though.”

“What?! You’re rich, and you’re still making me pay?”

Not a bad way to start the day.

Lunch with Soohyun took place at a sushi restaurant in Jamsil.

The restaurant, Mi Sushi, was a high-end sushi spot less than ten minutes by car from the real estate office.

As we stepped inside, the soft orange lighting in the entrance set a warm tone.

The spacious interior, paired with soothing jazz music playing in the background, created a sophisticated and inviting atmosphere.

“This way, please,” the staff said, guiding us to an open table near the back.

Not a bad choice.

“What do you think? Nice, isn’t it?”

“It’s great. Do you come here often?”

“Yeah, I stop by whenever I feel like treating myself.”

Her flushed cheeks and quiet tone suggested she was genuinely happy about her move.

It made sense—her previous place was small, and the lack of soundproofing caused her plenty of issues.

The server handed us menus, but Soohyun didn’t even glance at hers before handing it back.

“We’ll have two A-course meals, please.”

She ordered confidently, as if she’d been here countless times.

As we waited for our food, we exchanged stories about our daily lives—her plans for new streaming content, why she decided to move, and the nightmare experiences she’d had with troublesome viewers.

The topics were mundane, but surprisingly, I found myself enjoying the conversation more than I’d expected.

Naturally, I started sharing parts of my own routine: sitting on my terrace every morning with a cup of coffee, dedicating a couple of hours each day to Epic Seven, and trying out new recipes as I explored my growing interest in cooking.

They were trivial things, yet she listened so intently, as though I were telling captivating tales.

It had been so long since I’d simply sat across from someone and enjoyed a genuine conversation. Even as our food arrived, one course after another, our lively chatter continued without pause.

“Haha! Your expression just now was priceless!”

“It wasn’t funny at all!”

Her clear, cheerful voice, her unguarded demeanor, and her radiant, childlike smile…

Combined with the warm sunlight streaming through the windows, the moment felt like a scene straight out of a painting.

The food tasted so good that it felt almost bittersweet, as if the flavors were heightened by the joy of the moment.

“I feel like the food tasted even better than usual today.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Maybe it’s because I came with you.”

Thump.

Did I hear that right? My heart started pounding like it was about to burst.

Could she mean…? But what if I was just reading too much into it?

For someone like me, who hadn’t had a proper conversation with a woman in ages, the thought felt overwhelming.

If this was just my imagination running wild, there was no need to dwell on it.

But the ache in my chest was undeniable.

“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant! I mean, it’s just nice to eat with a friend, that’s all. Haha…”

As I lowered my head silently, she fumbled for words, her face turning bright red as she tried to explain herself.

Ha, what an idiot I am.

Even with my lack of social awareness, I wasn’t blind to the fact that she felt something for me.

Suddenly, I thought back to the day when all my lies had become reality.

What had I been thinking back then?

I’d promised myself not to waste the opportunity I’d been given.

Yes, that’s what I’d decided.

I raised my head and met her gaze.

My heart, pounding relentlessly as though the brakes had failed, pushed me to confront the moment head-on.

It felt as though a spring breeze had swept through my chest.

“I feel the same way.”

“…What?”

“I said, I feel the same way.”

Maybe it was impulsive. Maybe it was just wishful thinking.

But so what? I was tired of running away, tired of choosing avoidance over action.